One of the renowned Irish Tenors will make a stop in Lubbock on Friday, Nov. 8, to raise money for a local organization.

Ryan Voight, director of operations for Operation HOPE, said 100 percent of proceeds from “An Evening with Anthony Kearns” will go toward operation costs for the organization.

Operation HOPE

Operation HOPE is a nonprofit organization created in 1999 by Dr. John Thomas, according to Avalanche-Journal archives.

The organization was brought to life after Thomas met a child in Bolivia who needed surgery, the archive reads.

“He started the organization because he wanted to bring more doctors to places overseas,” Voight said. “Initially, it was Honduras to help provide for the sick and that sort of thing. He realized he could push harder and deeper as an organization.”

Before every trip, Thomas gathers volunteers from various medical professions to travel overseas on medical missions.

“Over the last three or four years since the earthquake hit Haiti in 2011, we have been committed to working in Haiti,” Voight said.

The organization has also helped with projects outside of medical missions and inside the United States — most recently, Hurricane Sandy, Voight said.

“Last December, we started working with a church in New York doing Hurricane Sandy cleanup and that sort of thing,” he said. “We helped out with inner-city basketball camp and bringing kids off the street and teaching them life lessons and skills.”

Funding for such missions is primarily provided by donations and fundraisers, Thomas said in a previous interview with the A-J.

The performance by Kearns, accompanied by Patrick Healy, will benefit such missions, Voight said.

Paths collide

Music has always been a big part of Kearns’ life.

“As a kid, I played traditional musical instruments,” he said. “I gained confidence and performed in some shows and musicals. It developed my craft. … It’s what I love doing.”

The tenor has toured with the Irish trio for almost 20 years after winning “Ireland’s Search for a Tenor” in 1993.

Following the competition, Kearns enrolled in the Leinster School of Music and was a student in Dublin, he said. During his time as a student, he met Healy.

“He came back to work with students at this college,” Kearns said of Healy.

Kearns’ music teacher invited Healy to visit the school and observe the talents of her students.

“Patrick evidently also has a pretty large following,” Voight said. “He is a world-renowned pianist and has been for over 50 years.”

After hearing Kearns, Healy took a special interest in his vocal talents and began working with him, Kearns said.

“Patrick and I have been working together for 20 years now,” Kearns said. “So we have a longtime relationship working with each other. He has worked with several great musicians and singers all throughout his career. Anyone that has seen him adores him. His way of communicating with people is second to none. People enjoy listening and talking to him. Together, I think we have a good show.”

Healy has even written a few songs specifically for Kearns’ voice, including “Hills of Home,” “A Father’s Prayer” and “Friendship,” Kearns said.

When he’s not touring with the Tenors, Kearns performs on his solo tour. Healy often tours with him when he isn’t busy with other projects. But their friendship goes beyond the stage, Kearns said.

“I call him when we’re not working,” Kearns said. “I visit him in the UK.”

An Evening with Anthony Kearns

On Friday, attendees will get a chance to hear both performers at the City Bank Auditorium.

The event will start at 7 p.m. and will include a VIP reception after the performance, Voight said. Tickets are available through Select-a-Seat outlets.

“Right now, we are about to send money to our partners in Haiti,” Voight said. “This will be going toward helping feed and educate kids as well as a few (other) projects.”

All funds collected from “An Evening with Anthony Kearns” will go to Operation HOPE, he said.

It’s not often that his tour passes through Lubbock, Kearns said. The last time was about two years ago.

“If you haven’t listened to this kind of music, it’s not all heavy duty,” he said. “It’s quite fun, there’s lots of laughter and there are a lot of things you can learn. Try something once if you haven’t tried it before.”

The event will feature songs from Kearns’ newest album, “With A Song In My Heart,” which launched at the beginning of October.

“This is my debut solo album,” Kearns said. “A lot of songs, I have performed through the years — ‘Shenandoah,’ ‘Danny Boy,’ that’s a good Irish tune; popular tunes. There’s something in it for everyone.”